| "Axel F" | |||||
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| Single by Harold Faltermeyer from the album Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack |
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| B-side | "Discovery", "Shootout" | ||||
| Released | 1987 | ||||
| Format | 7", 12" | ||||
| Recorded | 1984 | ||||
| Genre | Electronic | ||||
| Length | 3:01 | ||||
| Label | MCA Records MCA 949 |
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| Writer | Harold Faltermeyer | ||||
| Producer | Harold Faltermeyer | ||||
| Harold Faltermeyer singles chronology | |||||
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"Axel F" is the electronic instrumental theme from the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop performed by Harold Faltermeyer. It topped musical charts in 1985 and remains a popular remix track. Mixes of "Axel F" topped European pop charts in 2003 and again in 2005 as the Crazy Frog song. Faltermeyer recorded the song using three synthesizers: a Roland Jupiter-8, a Roland JX-3P, and a Yamaha DX-7.
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Etymology
The title for the song "Axel F" comes from the main character's name, Axel Foley, in the film Beverly Hills Cop. The musical key of the song alternates between F minor and F major, a further reference to the character.
Published Recordings With Chart Positions
- 1985 "Axel F" (by Harold Faltermeyer) #2 UK, #3 US
- 1991 "Axel F" by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for the Telarc release Bond and Beyond
- 1995 "Axel F"/"Keep Pushin'" (by Clock) #7 UK
- 1998 "Axel F" (by Planet Bass)
- 1998 "Axel F" (by Trance Atlantic Air Waves)
- 1999 "Axel F" (by Cobat)
- 2001 "Axel F" (by Spacecorn) #74 UK
- 2003 "Axel F 2003"/"Axel F 2004" (by Murphy Brown & Captain Hollywood)
- 2005 "Axel F" (by Crazy Frog) #1 UK, #50 US
- 2005 "Italian Fireflies vs Axel Foley Theme" (Author Unknown, sampled from Black Strobe and Harold Faltermeyer)
Cultural references
In series TV
- Four episodes of The Simpsons, "Separate Vocations", "Radio Bart", "Marge vs. the Monorail", and "Sweets and Sour Marge", used a slightly modified version of "Axel F" as incidental music, usually to indicate suspense.
- The "Masters Of All Time" episode of Danny Phantom used an "Axel F"-esque song during the scene when Danny first arrives in the past.
- In an episode of King of the Hill, "Maid in Arlen", Kahn is able to play Axel F on a keyboard while singing the words "Bev-Bev Beverly Hills Cop/Bev-Bev Beverly Hills Cop/Axel Foley's gonna find those druuugs!" to the music.
- In one episode of Family Guy, "Whistle While Your Wife Works", it is Brian's ringtone.
- In another episode of Family Guy, "Meet the Quagmires", Peter goes back in time to 1984. Instead of trying to save his relationship with Lois, he goes to the St. Elmo's Clam club with Cleveland and dances to this song on two separate occasions, while "singing" using his trademark giggle in time to the music.
- In an episode of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Donna sarcastically tells her boyfriend Gaz that Axel F is her favourite romantic song. The song is played later in the episode when Gaz tries to marry her, and is played when the couple of walking down the "aisle".
- In an episode of Friends, "The One with the Prom Video", Ross plays Axel F on a small keyboard after saying he wants to "work on [his] music."
- When the Walker, Texas Ranger lever originally debuted on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," it was accompanied by a button which played Axel F when pressed. This was quickly phased out.
- In an episode of Clerks: The Animated Series, Axel F is played in a dream sequence in which a Judge Reinhold character dreams about teaming up with "Axel" again.
Samples in music
- Korean singer "PSY" made another remix of Axel F in his song 챔피언 "Champion".
- Sampled by dancehall artist Vybz Kartel on the 2006 single, "Car Man", from the album JMT.
- Kidz Bop Kids remixed the 2005 version by Crazy Frog.
- There is a Telugu song sampling Axel F [1].
In video games
- The "Jurassic Park" game for the Nintendo Game Boy, released in 1993, used a remixed version of "Axel F" as a part of the game's music.
- Used on Atari ST cover disks by the 'Medway Boys' and 'Pompey Pirates'.
- Covered on numerous Russian 8bit computer games that have been ported (Radio-86RK, Pentagon, Elektronika BK-0010 and Vector-06C)
Audio sample
Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F excerpt Image:Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F excerpt.ogg
An excerpt from the Harold Faltermeyer version of Axel F
Problems listening to the file? See media help.
See also
External links
- The 8bitpeoples "Axel F" A freely downloadable compilation of various artists' interpretations of "Axel F." Released under Creative Commons license.
